fashion

The Green Guide to Style: Treading Light
By Sally Glover. Posted on 7:00:00 am - Thursday, June 12, 2008.

The selection of eco-friendly summer sandals available in stores and online this year proves once again that you don’t have to ditch your style in your efforts to go green. Made from materials that include recycled bicycle tires, hemp, sustainable wood, and recycled paper, our list of favourites for guys and gals will help you lighten your fashion-forward footprint this summer.

SplaffFlopps began in a garage over ten years ago with a tire, a bike tube, a shoe knife and a vision of cool, comfortable, planet-friendly flip flops. Splaff soles are made from recycled car tires, the straps from used bicycle tire inner tubes and the footbeds and strap linings from hemp in a 100% waste-free process (US$38.95). Hang ten, dude.

Life’s a beach with Reef’s awesome Stash Sandal made from recycled EVA, recycled rubber, soy fibre and hemp. The surf-friendly flip flops come with a stash pocket to hide your goods and a recycled aluminium pen with a refillable ink cartridge hidden in the heels so you can keep track of the waves. Available online or in stores (check www.nolimits.ca for Ontario info).

Mohop sandals are beautiful, versatile and easy on the planet. Hand-made in small batches from Finnish birch plywood and recycled rubber soles, the laced ribbon design allows you to change the look of the shoe to match your mood. The Susanna Low Heel comes with five sets of long ribbons in varied colours, a how-to booklet and a reusable shoebox. Available online at Greenloop ($155US) or in Toronto at Kensington Market’s Left Feet.

Gladiator sandals have popped up on many fashion must-have lists for 2008. Channel your green Greek goddess in this vegan version from Steve Madden available from Alternative Outfitters ($47.95US). Visit PETA’s Cows Are Cool site to find out how leather production harms the environment.

Simple is committed to leading the shoe industry in sustainable innovation and supports StopGlobalWarming with$5 from every pair sold to help raise awareness about climate change. Simple’smen’s and women’s Green Toe line represents their best foot forward in making things better for the earth anduses sustainable materials such as hemp, bamboo, 100% post-consumer recycled paper and recycled car tires. Order a pair of Toe Stirs (for women) or U.F. Toes (for men) and they’ll arrive in a sweet biodegradable bag,or check their store locator for a retailer near you.

Tags: environmentally-friendly, footwear, Green Guide, style, sustainable

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